Several friends of mine are vegans. I can’t imagine changing my diet in such a fundamental way, but they keep encouraging me to replace meat. They say more and more tasty alternatives are emerging. Based on this story, they’re right. Check out the innovation that’s occurring inside Beyond Meat, a company that’s creating and producing aplant-based meat alternative to burgers.
The entire El Segundo operation dedicates itself to flavor, aroma, appearance, and texture. Every day, a team of scientists essentially share one job: to discover how ingredients such as peas or fava beans can become an alternative to cows and other animals.
“Everything here is an investment toward that goal of making it indistinguishable,” says founder and CEO Ethan Brown.
Fast Company reports that Behind Meat is doing so well, it’s having trouble meeting demand. And it looks like lower costs could be ahead.
Brown is confident that in several years, plant-based alternatives will cost less than meat. A pack of Beyond Meat ranges from just above $5 on Amazon Fresh to $7.49 in grocery stores for two 4-ounce patties, which can be nearly double the price of beef per ounce in some markets. Its products will become more affordable as it masters processes and manufacturing, whereas beef and poultry is projected to get more expensive, according to the Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service.
I don’t buy into the CEO’s view that eating meat is bad for the environment. Regardless, I love innovation and innovators. I see this as a classic story about harnessing a big idea, turning it into a viable product, creating jobs, competing for customers, and continuing to look for ways to improve the product and increase sales. Read the story. It’s fascinating.
